Dalit Man Assaulted, Forced to Eat Cow Dung by Bajrang Dal in Maharashtra

Mumbai: A Dalit youth was allegedly brutally assaulted and forced to eat cow dung by members of a group claiming to be Gau Rakshak (cow protectors) in Maharashtra’s Jalna. The attackers, who claimed to be Bajrang Dal members, allegedly assaulted the youth and forcibly fed him cow dung.

Groups calling themselves Gau Rakshak have been attacking Dalits and Muslims in several parts of the country in the name of protecting cows. Several people have also been killed over allegations of cattle smuggling since BJP and NDA came to power in India.

Police have registered a case against six unidentified persons in connection with the incident. The victim has been identified as Parameshwar Suhas Hiwale.

The incident took place on May 23. Parameshwar was returning with a bull he had purchased from the cattle market in Dulgaon Raja when a group claiming to be Bajrang Dal activists stopped him in the Kanhaiya area.

The group claimed to be Gau Rakshak and accused Parameshwar of taking the bull to sell it to Muslim butchers. They then assaulted him. Parameshwar’s 11-year-old son was also with him at the time.

Parameshwar told police that he had legally purchased the bull and had the necessary documents, but the group attacked both him and his son despite his explanation.

He said the attackers brutally assaulted him before forcibly stuffing cow dung into his mouth. They also asked him his name and caste and subjected him to caste-based abuse.

Parameshwar told police that the attackers also forcibly put cow dung into the mouth of his minor son.

The victim approached the Jalna Tehsil police station and filed a complaint after learning that videos of the incident were circulating on social media.